The academy of faculty and the staff at Wichita State University engage in externally supported research, training and service activities that are consistent with the university’s mission and vital to its growth. This column recognizes grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications.
In addition, University Relations will note new appointments, sabbaticals, retirements and deaths of our current and former colleagues.
GRANTS, as reported by the Office of Research Administration
Delores Craig-Moreland, associate professor, community affairs, was awarded $15,000 by Sedgwick County for the project “Juvenile Justice Consultation Services.”
Ward Jewell, professor, electrical and computer engineering, was awarded $74,000 by Power Systems Engineering Research Centers for the project “Power Quality Lab.”
L. Scott Miller, professor and chair, aerospace engineering, was awarded $410,000 by the Goddard Space Flight Center for the project “Kansas Space Grant Consortium.”
Michael Papadakis, professor, aerospace engineering, was awarded $84,235 by Ice Management Systems Inc. for the project “Next Generation Ice Protection Technologies for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – EEDS Development and Testing.”
Teresa Radebaugh, director, WSU Regional Institute on Aging, was awarded $11,000 by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund for the project “Regional Institute on Aging Conference.”
Lynn Schrepferman, instructor and clinical coordinator, psychology, was awarded $9,600 by Child Start Inc. for the project “Child Start Early Childhood Program.”
Marcia Stevens, director, WSU Small Business Development Center, was awarded $6,500 by Harvey County for the project “Business Consulting Services.”
John Tomblin, professor, aerospace engineering, and executive director, National Institute for Aviation Research, was awarded $1,447,396 by the Universal Technology Corp. for the project “Inspection and Analysis Methods on Aging Military Aircraft.”
HONORS & AWARDS
Nine faculty and staff members were honored with the President’s Distinguished Service Award and the Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award during the Shocker Pride Celebration on May 7. To see who was honored, go to http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=226.
Ten Wichita State faculty members were honored during the 2008 Faculty Awards on May 13. The honorees were chosen for setting the gold standard for teaching, research and creative activities at WSU. To see who was honored, go to http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/news/?nid=228.
Les Anderson, associate professor and associate director, Elliott School of Communication, received four awards in the 2008 Kansas Professional Communicators contest. The awards were first place, personal columns, humor; second place, personal columns, general; second place, writing for the Web, commentary; and third place, feature story, daily newspaper.
Deborah Byers, director of financial aid, is winner of the Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Hall of Fame Award for 2007-2008 for her significant contributions to the profession and association, and her excellence in service to the campus community, students and their families.
David Day, assistant professor, physician assistant, and Richard Muma, associate professor and physician assistant department chair, have been recognized as Distinguished Fellows of the American Academy of Physician Assistants for their outstanding contributions to patient care, research and the profession.
Anthony Gythiel, professor of history, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY. An academic convocation for the presentation of the degree was held May 21 at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Wichita.
Keith Pickus, associate provost and associate professor of German and Jewish history, has been appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to serve as a member of the State Holocaust Commission.
Lou Heldman, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Media Management & Journalism, created and co-wrote “Wichita State & The World,” a new series that debuted April 20 on WSU TV, Channel 13 on Cox Cable in Wichita.
Gary L. Miller, provost, is the host of the new WSU TV, Channel 13 series “Wichita State & The World.”
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS
Les Anderson, Kevin Hager, Jim Meyer and Lisa Parcell, Elliott School of Communication, worked together during the spring semester to have students in their classes produce media campaigns for local environmental organizations as part of a partnership between local environmental organizations, KSCW, the Elliott School and WSU-LINK. Some of the students’ work is now posted on the “Free to Be Green” portion of KSCW’s Web site, hosted by KWCH-TV Channel 12.
Dinorah Azpuru, assistant professor of political science, presented “Financing Democratic Change” at the University of New Hampshire as one of seven invited speakers in the Saul O’Sidore Memorial Lecture Series 2007-2008. This academic year's theme was Exploring Democracy at Home and Abroad.
Ruth Bohlken, director, Center for Physical Activity and Aging, presented “Functional Fitness Programming for Older Adults” at the March 13 Women’s Health Conference in Wichita.
Keith Pickus, associate provost and associate professor of German and Jewish history, gave a presentation based on his recently published book, “Our Only Hope: Eddie's Holocaust Story and the Weisz Family Correspondence,” for a Holocaust commemoration sponsored by the Wichita Holocaust Commemoration Council in April. The Wichita council consists of the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation, WSU, Newman University, Inter-Faith Ministries, Congregation Emanu-El and Ahavath Achim Hebrew Congregation.
Shelley Rich, director, and Jessica Varlack, assistant coordinator, Heskett Center aquatics program, presented “Inservice Training: Filling in the Gaps” at the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association in April.
Michael Rogers, associate professor, research director, Center for Physical Activity and Aging, presented “Standing Strong: Reducing fall risk in older adults” on March 13 to the AARP Wichita Chapter.
IN MEMORIAM
Peter S. Bartel, 87, assistant professor emeritus of physics, died May 26. Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita. Survivors include his wife, Amanda; son, Charles Bartel; daughter, Deborah Winegarner; brother, Roland Bartel; sisters, Martha Peters and Linda Goertzen; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by seven siblings. A memorial has been established with Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church.
James Ceasar, 92, former professor of violin and concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony, died May 4. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma. Survivors include sons William of Wichita and James Jr. of Norway, and a daughter, Karen Hogan of New York. Services have been held at Country Acres Baptist Church in Wichita. The family has established the James Ceasar Memorial in Music with the WSU Foundation.
Jeffrey Brian Dizmang, 30, former board operator and announcer for KMUW Public Radio, died March 30. Survivors include wife, Jill, and stepdaughter Josie, both of Wichita; mother, LaRene of Wichita. Services were held in Kingman. Memorials have been established with American Cancer Society and Kansas Humane Society.
James N. Gundersen, 82, professor emeritus of geology, died April 1, at Desert Springs Nursing Home in El Paso, Texas. Survivors include wife, Rae C. of the family home; sons James of St. Charles, Mo., and Karl of St. Louis, Mo.; daughter Elyse McBride of Madison, Wis., and six grandchildren. Memorial services were held in Las Cruces, N.M. A memorial has been established with the Alzheimer Association of New Mexico, 101 N. Alameda, Las Cruces, NM 88001.
Glen Gregory Rowley, 46, custodial maintenance specialist, died May 22. Services have been held at Hillside Funeral Home West in Wichita. Survivors include daughter, Treasa Rowley; stepmother, Beverly Rowley; sisters, Wilhelminne Cowdrey and Claudinna Rowley; stepsisters, June, Diane, Sonnia, Rose Ann, Fay, Corinna and Michelle; granddaughter, Marissa Rowley-Saddler; two nephews and one niece.